Isaiah 20

New International Version

A Prophecy Against Egypt and Cush

20 In the year that the supreme commander,^(A) sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod^(B) and attacked and captured it— ² at that time the Lord spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz.^(C) He said to him, “Take off the sackcloth^(D) from your body and the sandals^(E) from your feet.” And he did so, going around stripped^(F) and barefoot.^(G)

³ Then the Lord said, “Just as my servant^(H) Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years,^(I) as a sign^(J) and portent^(K) against Egypt^(L) and Cush,^{[a](M) 4} so the king^(N) of Assyria will lead away stripped^(O) and barefoot the Egyptian captives^(P) and Cushite^(Q) exiles, young and old, with buttocks bared^(R)—to Egypt’s shame.^{(S) 5} Those who trusted^(T) in Cush^(U) and boasted in Egypt^(V) will be dismayed and put to shame.^{(W) 6} In that day^(X) the people who live on this coast will say, ‘See what has happened^(Y) to those we relied on,^(Z) those we fled to for help^(AA) and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?^(AB)’”